CVE-2026-78248: Simple Online Food Ordering System SQLI

CVE-2026-78248 Overview

CVE-2026-78248 is a SQL injection vulnerability in SourceCodester Simple Online Food Ordering System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /fos/admin/ajax.php?action=save_settings endpoint, where the Name parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. Remote attackers can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic scanning and abuse. The weakness is classified under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can inject SQL through the Name parameter of the admin settings handler, enabling database read and write access against the food ordering application.

Affected Products

SourceCodester Simple Online Food Ordering System 1.0
Vulnerable endpoint: /fos/admin/ajax.php?action=save_settings
Vulnerable parameter: Name

Discovery Timeline

2026-08-24 - CVE-2026-78248 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-08-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-78248

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the administrative AJAX handler ajax.php when invoked with the action=save_settings parameter. The handler accepts a Name argument from the request body and concatenates it into a SQL statement executed against the backend database. Because the input is not parameterized or sanitized, attackers can break out of the string context and append arbitrary SQL clauses.

Successful injection allows attackers to read application data, modify configuration records saved by the settings handler, or attempt authentication bypass through UNION and boolean-based techniques. The endpoint is reachable over the network and does not require user interaction, which lowers the barrier to exploitation.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of user-supplied input before it is used in a downstream SQL query [CWE-74]. The Name field submitted to save_settings is inserted directly into the query string rather than bound as a parameter. Any special characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or SQL keywords are interpreted by the database engine.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires only network access to the application's admin AJAX endpoint. An attacker submits a crafted POST request to /fos/admin/ajax.php?action=save_settings with a malicious Name value containing SQL syntax. Depending on the application's access control on the endpoint, exploitation may be feasible without authentication. Refer to the VulDB entry for CVE-2026-78248 and the public GitHub issue for technical proof-of-concept details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-78248

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP POST requests to /fos/admin/ajax.php?action=save_settings containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, SLEEP(, or information_schema in the Name field.
Unexpected modifications to the settings table or related configuration records without a corresponding administrative session.
Database error messages or 500-series responses returned by ajax.php immediately following requests with unusual Name payloads.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect the Name parameter of save_settings requests and block SQL injection signatures.
Enable database query logging and alert on queries originating from the save_settings handler that contain concatenated user input patterns such as tautologies (OR 1=1) or time-based payloads.
Correlate web server access logs with database audit logs to identify anomalous query volumes tied to the admin AJAX endpoint.

Monitoring Recommendations

Baseline normal traffic to /fos/admin/ endpoints and alert on spikes in POST volume or requests from unfamiliar source addresses.
Monitor for outbound connections initiated by the database process, which may indicate post-exploitation staging.
Track failed and successful admin authentication events immediately before or after save_settings calls containing suspicious payloads.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-78248

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the /fos/admin/ directory using IP allowlists, VPN gating, or reverse-proxy authentication until a code fix is applied.
Deploy WAF rules that block SQL metacharacters in the Name parameter of the save_settings action.
Audit the application database for unauthorized changes to settings, user, and order records dating back to first exposure.

Patch Information

No official vendor patch is referenced in the NVD entry at the time of publication. Administrators should monitor the SourceCodester project site and the VulDB advisory for updates. Because a public exploit has been disclosed, operators of the Simple Online Food Ordering System 1.0 should treat the application as compromised-eligible and consider isolating it until a fix is released or a code-level mitigation is implemented.

Workarounds

Modify the save_settings handler in ajax.php to use parameterized queries or prepared statements instead of string concatenation for the Name field.
Apply server-side input validation that rejects non-printable characters and SQL syntax tokens in configuration fields.
Enforce least-privilege database credentials for the application account, removing DROP, ALTER, and FILE privileges to limit blast radius.
Disable or remove the vulnerable installation if it is not required for production use.

bash

# Example WAF rule concept for blocking SQLi patterns in the Name parameter
# (ModSecurity-style pseudocode - adapt to your WAF syntax)
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /fos/admin/ajax.php" \
  "chain,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'CVE-2026-78248 SQLi attempt'"
  SecRule ARGS:Name "@rx (?i)(union\s+select|or\s+1=1|sleep\(|information_schema|--|;)"